Compressed-air liquid elevator and conveyer



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

L. A. ZUHE. COMPRESSED AIR LIQUID ELEVATOR AND CONVEYER.

No. 593,151. Patented Nov. 2,1897.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

L. A. ZOHE. COMPRESSED AIR LIQUID ELEVATOR AND GONVEYER. No. 593,151.Patented Nov. 2,1897.

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UNITED STATES ATENT tries.

LUDVVIG A. ZCHE, OF SYRACUSE, NE vV YORK.

COM PRESSED-AIR LIQUID ELEVATOR AND CONVEYER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,151, dated November2, 1897'.

- Application filed April 21, 1897. Serial No. 633,198. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, LUDwIc A. Zone, a citizen of the United States,residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Compressed-Air LiquidElevators and Gonveyers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to compressedair liquid elevators and conveyers,and primarily .has for its object to provide improved apparatus forraising water from a well, cistern, or the like, wherein the compressedair is used over and over again to effect a continuous flow of thewater, whereby the energy required to do the work is diminished.

It has for a further object to adapt such apparatus to conveying acidsand similar liquids, and to combine with such apparatus means forheating, washing, and drying the air after it has performed its task offorcing the liquid and before it is returned to the compressor.

To these ends my invent-ion consists in the features and in thecombination, arrangement, or construction of parts hereinafterdescribed,and definitely set forth in the claims following thedescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, wherein- Figure 1 is a sectional Viewillustrating oneform of my apparatus for raising water from a well. Fig.2 is a similar view of the apparatus for conveying water in largevolume,and Fig. 3 is a similar view of the apparatus arranged for conveyingacids.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a well or cistern, inthe bottom of which is arranged a closed vessel or tank 2. Projectinginto the lower portion of said tank is an injector comprising an outertapering shell 3 and an inner induction-tube 4. Communicating with theshell 3 is an air-pipe 5, which leads up out of the cistern to anaircompressor, as shown in Fig. 1. Said aircompressor may be of anyordinary type of double-acting air-pump, and is shown in the presentinstance as consisting of a cylinder 6, in which is arranged areciprocating piston 7. Said cylinder on one side and near its oppositeends is provided with two valves 8 and 9, which open outwardly into thepipe 5, and on its opposite side at corresponding points is providedwith two valves 10 and 11, which open inwardly from a pipe 12. The pipe12 extends down into the upper part of the tank 2 and is adapted to beclosed at its lower end by a float-valve 13. An inwardlyopeningcheck-valve 14 is arranged in the pipe 12 at any suitable point betweenthe upper and lower ends of the pipe, and between the upper and lowerends of the pipe 5 is inserted an. air-reservoir 15. A discharge pipe 16leads from the lower portion of the vessel 2 to a point above the top ofthe cistern.

The operation of this form of the apparatus is as follows: Theair-compressor being put into operation compresses the air and forces itdown the pipe 5 into the injector and thence into the vessel The air inpassing through the injector carries with it water through theinduction-tube 4 in a manner well known. When a sufficient quantity ofwater has been injected into the vessel 2 to float the valve 13 to acertain height, said valve closes the lower end of the pipe 12. Thecompressor continues to force air and water into the vessel until thepressure ele vates the water and discharges it out through the pipe 16.During this operation While the float-valve 13 closes the pipe 12 thecompressor obtains its air through the checkvalve 14. As the Waterdischarges through the pipe 16 air is accumulating in the top of thevessel 2 until it forces the water down therein, upon which thefloat-valve 13 drops by gravity and uncovers the lower end of the pipe12. The air then enters the pipe 12 and passes to the suction side ofthe compressor, the check-valve 14 automatically closing. At this stageof the operation all the parts are balancedthat is to say, the Waterflows up and out the pipe 16 and the float-valve 13 remains down, theair passing up through the pipe 12 to the compressor as fast as it isinjected into the vessel with the water, the amount of water liftedbeing dependent upon. the speed at which the compressor is operated. Theflow of water is thus continuous and the air makes a complete circuit,being used'over and over again, and being under compression diminishesthe power necessary to drive the compressor. The reservoir 15 serves asan accumulator to render the ac- The foregoing-described form ofapparatus embodies the invention in its simplest form and is welladapted for raising water from wells, cisterns, and the like.

For the purpose of raising the water in large volumes I provide the tankor vessel 2 with a plurality of injectors, as shown in Fig. i

2. Referring to said figure, the numeral 18 indicates a partitionarranged near the bot-v tom of the vessel 2, forming below it an air-.chamber 19. Projecting through the parti tion 18 into the chamber are anumber of injector-shells 3, in each of which is arranged the deliveryend of an induction-tube 4, that projects through the bottom of thevessel. The inlet ends of all the induction-tubes 4 are connected to amanifold 20, which leads from the body of water to be raised orconveyed. The shell 3 and induction-tubes 4 constitute a gang ofinjectors that operate in unison, as will hereinafter appear. Apipe2lileads from the air-reservoir to the air-chamber 19 and is providedwith a valve 21.

An independent injector 22, which I denominate astarting-injector,projects into the vessel 2, and its induction-tube 23is connected to the manifold 20. In said manifold, between theinduction-tube 23 and the induction-tubes 4, is arranged a valve 24, bymeans of which the water-supply may be cut olf from the gang ofinduction-tubes 4 without interfering with the supply to theinduction-tube 23. An air-supply pipe 25 leads from the air-reservoir 15to the injector 22, and in said pipe and the induction-tube 23 arearranged valves 25, by means of whichv the injector 22 may be cut out ofoperation.

For supplying air to the reservoir-15 in this form of the device Iemploya compound airpump having a high and low pressure cylinder. Forthe purpose I may employ any of the well-known compressors of this type,and I have illustrated in Fig. 2 one form of compressor suitable for thepurpose. Referring to said figure, the numeral 26 indicates thelow-pressure compressor, havingits suction side connected to the tank orvessel 2 by a pipe 27 and its discharge or outlet connected to thereservoir 15 by a pipe 28, in which is arranged a valve 29. Thecompressor 26 comprises a cylinder provided at its opposite ends withduplex valves 30 and a piston 31, working in said cylinder, theconstruction being such that the compressor takes in and discharges airon each stroke in a manner Well known and needing no detaileddescription.

a three-way valve 36, which when turned in one direction permits theairfrom the highpressure compressor to pass to the reservoir,

but when turned in the other direction shuts off communication betweenthe high-pressure compressor and the reservoir and discharges the airfrom the compressor into the atmosphere.

Instead of the float-valve before described an ordinary hand-operatedvalve 37 is arranged in the pipe 27. A discharge-pipe 16, such as beforedescribed, leads from the bottom of the vessel 2, and said vessel isprovided with an ordinary gage-glass 38 to indicate the level of thewater in the vessel.

The operation of this form of the apparatus is as follows: To start theapparatus, the

valves 21, 29, and 37 are closed, thus shutting off the gang ofinjectors from the reservoir and also shutting off the communicationbetween the low-pressure compressor and the reservoir and at the sametime closing the com- ,munication between the low-pressure compressorand the vessel 2. The valve 2i in the manifold is also closed to shutoif the supply of water to the gang of injectors. The valve 25 in theair-pipe 25 is closed and maintained closed until there is a suflicientpressure of air in the reservoir, and then the valves 25 are finallyopened, placing the injector 22 in communication with the manifold andwith the air-reservoir, and the valve 36 turned to connect the highpressure compressor with the air -reservoir. The compressor being thenput into operation the high pressure compressor takes in atmospheric airthrough the inlet-port 34 and discharges the air through the pipe, 35into the reservoir, from whence it is conveyed by pipe 25 to thestarting-injector 22v and thence into the vessel 2, carrying with itwater from the induction-tube 23. When suflicient water has been forcedinto the vessel and the pressure of the air is sufficient to dischargethe water through the pipe 16, the valve 37 is opened wide enough topermit a proper quantity of the air to pass up pipe 27 to maintain thenecessary pressure on the water to keep up a steady discharge out pipe16. The air then passes up pipe 27 to the suction side of thelow-pressure compressor, and the valves 21 and 29 are immediately openedto put the low-pressure compressor into communication with thereservoir, the valve 36 is turned to discharge the air from thehigh-pressure compressor into the atmosphere, the valves 25 are closedto shut off the starting-injector,

and the valve 24 in the manifold is opened to supply the gang ofinjectors with water. The low-pressure compressor will then supply airto the reservoir, and the latter will feed the gang of injectors. Allthe injectors of the gang will then cooperate to inject air and waterinto the vessel 2, the volume or quantity of the water thus raised onlybeing dependent upon the supply, the number of the injectors, and thecapacity of the compressor. The level of the water in the vessel, andhence the manner in which the apparatus is working, may be viewedthrough the gage 38, and the proper level of the water is maintained byadj usting'the valve 37 in the pipe 27 to regulate the pressure of theair in the vessel. The valve 36 is adjusted to correspond to therequirements of the airsupply. If the gage is seen to be full, ornearlyso, the valve 36 should be turned to permit the high-pressure compressorto force air in from the atmosphere until the level of the water isforced down to the proper point, and

the valve is again turned to throw the high-' pressure compressor out ofcommunication with the air-reservoir.

An inwardly-opening check-valve 17 is preferably placed in the pipe 20to prevent backward flow of air or liquid when the machine is not inuse.

The principle of operation in the two described forms of apparatus isidentical, the construction being only varied to adapt the device forraising water in small or large quantities.

In elevating and conveying acids and other chemical liquids that have atendency to combine with or chemically affect the air the air,

if not purified beforeits return, when brought into contact with thecompressor and its connections injuriously affects and finally destroysthe parts, and in order to prevent such action I combine with myelevating and conveying apparatus the washing and drying devicesillustrated in Fig. 3. Referring to said figure, the numeral 39indicates the air-compressor, 15 the air-reservoir, 2 the vessel, 3 thein j ector-shell, 4 the induction-tube, 16 the discharge-pipe, 12 thereturn air-pipe, and 13 the float-valve, all constructed and operatingin the manner first above described. The induetion-tube 4 leads from atank or reservoir 48 from which the acid or other liquid is to bewithdrawn. Instead, however, of returning the air directly to thecompressor, it is first washed and dried and in some cases heated in itstransit between the vessel and the compressor in the manner which I willnow proceed to describe. Interposed between two sections of the pipe 12is a washer 40, comprising a cylinder 41, having arranged therein aplurality of gratings 42, one above the other, on which is depositedcoke or other suitable porous or granular material. In the top of thecylinder is disposed a spraying-jet 43, which is connected with asuitable source of water-supply, and projecting through the bottom ofthe cylinder is a drain-pipe 44, the mouth of which is controlled by afloat-valve in an obvious and well-known manner, the construction beingsuch that when the water accumulates in the bottom of the washer thevalve will be lifted and the water flows off through the drain-pipeuntil the valve again drops over the mouth of the pipe and closes it,thus preventing the escape of air. As shown, the air-inlet section ofthe pipe 12 enters the washer near the bottom and the airoutlet sectionnearthe top. The jet 43 sprays water over the layers of charcoal anddrips down from grating to grating in the form of fine spray, and theair ascends through this spray and intimately mixes therewith, wherebythe air is thoroughly washed and purified. From the washer the nowmoisture-laden air passes to the drier 46. posedbetween two sections ofthe pipe 12 and between the washer and the compressor, and consists of arectangular box or vessel in which are arranged, one above the other onalternate sides of the box, shelves 47, on which is deposited lime. Theair enters the bottom of the drier and passes back and forth in a zigzagdirectionover the lime, which absorbs the moisture, and the air passesout of the top of the vessel in a dry condition and thence returns tothe compressor.

In ice-making plants where the liquid being conveyed is apt to reducethe temperature of the air below freezing-point in order to prevent theair from freezing or clogging up any of the valves orconnections Iprovide a heater 49 for heating it immediately after it has passed fromthe vessel 2. Said heater should be located as near the top of thevessel 2 as possible, and is connected to the pipe 12, as shown, so thatthe air on emerging from the vessel 2 is immediately caused to passthrough the heater and thence directly to the compressor, the washer anddrier in such case being omitted. The construction of the heater formsno part of my invention. Any well-known form of steamheater may beemployed, and preferably the exhaust-steam from an engine forming a partof the plant is utilized as the heating medium.

As a further safeguard against the destructive action of the acids andthe like I contemplate forming those parts of the apparatus directlyexposed to such destructive action of glass, porcelain, or otherwell-known materials not affected by such chemical action.

An inwardly-opening check-valve 17 is preferably arranged in theinduction-pipe 4, and operates to prevent the backward flow of air orliquid to the tank 48 when the machine is not in use.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination with aclosed vessel having a discharge-pipe, and an injector connected withsaid vessel and having an induc- Said drier is inter- ITO compressed airto said injector, a return air-' pipe leading from the upper part of thevessel to the suction side of the air-compressor,

and means controlled by the height of the water in said vessel forregulating the passage of the compressed air from the vessel to theair-ccmpressor,substantially as described. i

2. The combination with a closed vessel having a discharge-pipe and aninjector connected with said vessel and having an induction-pipe leadingfrom the liquid to be conveyed, of an air-compressor for deliveringcompressed air to said injector, a return airpipe leading from the upperend of said vessel to the inlet side of the air-compressor,

and a float-valve arranged in said vessel and adapted to seat againstand close said returnpipe, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a closed vessel having a discharge-pipe and aninjector connected with said vessel and having an induction-pipe leadingfrom the liquid to be conveyed, of an air-compressor for deliveringcompressed air to said injector, a return airpipe leading from the upperend of said vessel to the inlet side of the air-compressor, aninwardly-opening valve arranged in said pipe and operating when open toadmit atmospheric air thereto, and a float-valve arranged in said vesseland adapted to seat against and close said return-pipe, substantiallyafsdescribed.

4. The combination with a closed vessel having a discharge-pipe and aninjector connectedwith said vessel and having an induction-pipe leadingfrom the liquid to be'conveyed, of an air-compressor for deliveringcompressed air to said injector, a return airpipe leading from the upperend of said vessel to the inlet side of the air-compressor, aninwardly-opening valve arranged in said pipe and operating when open toadmit atmospheric air thereto, a check-valve arranged in the lower endof the discharge-pipe, and a float-valve arranged in said vessel andadapted to seat against and close the said returnpipe, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination with a closed vessel having an air-chamber in itslower end of a plurality of injectors projecting from said air-chamberinto said vessel, induction-pipes leading from said injectors to theliquid to be conveyed, an air-compressor for forcing air into saidair-chamber, a discharge-pipe leading from the vessel, an independentinj ector leading into the vessel above the airchamber, and a valvedreturn air-pipe leading from the said vessel to the air-compressor,substantially as described.

- 6. The combination with a closed vessel having an air-chamber in itslower end, of a plurality of injectors projecting from said air-chamberinto said vessel, induction-pipes leading from said injectors andconnected with a manifold for supplying water to all of said injectors,a compressed-air reservoir, a valved pipe leading from said reservoir tosaid air-chamber, and an independent injec tor projecting into saidvessel and connected to the said manifold and air-reservoir,substantially as described.

7. The combination with a closed vessel having an airchamber in itslower end, of a plurality of injectors projecting from said air-chamberinto the said vessel, inductiom pipes leading from the injectors andconnected with a manifold for supplying water to all of the injectors, avalve for cutting off the water-supply to said injectors, a compressedair reservoir, a pipe leading from the reser voir to the air-chamber, anindependent injector leading into the vessel above the air chamber,means for cutting out of operation said independent injector, and anair-compressor ior supplying air to the reservoir. substantially asdescribed.

8. The combination with a closed'vessel having an air-chamber in itslower end, of a plurality of injectors projecting from said air-chamberinto the said vessel, induction pipes leading from the injectors andconnected with a manifold for supplying water to all of the injectors, avalve in said manifold for cutting off the supply of water to saidinjectors, an independent injector projecting into the vessel above saidair-chamber, an airreservoir and valved pipes connecting saidair-reservoir andvessel, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a closed vessel having an air-chamber at itslower end of a plurality of injectors projecting from said air-chamberinto said vessel, induction-pipes leading from the injectors andconnected with a manifold for supplying water to said injectors, anindependent injector projecting into the vessel above said air-chamber,an airreservoir, valved pipes leading from the airreservoir to theinjectors, an air-compressor having a high and low pressure pump, pipesleading from said pumps to the air'reservoir, means for cutting out thehigh pressure pump, and a valved air-return pipe leading from the vesselto the low-pressure pump, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a closed vessel and an injector connected withsaid vessel and having an induction-pipe leading from the liquid to beconveyed, of an air-compressor for delivering air to said injector, anair- Washer and an air-drier interposed between the said vessel andcompressor, pipes connecting said washer and drier to the vessel andcompressor and to each other, and means controlled by the height ofwaterin the vessel for regulating the passage of the compressed air fromthe vessel through the washer and drier to the compressor, substantiallyas described.

11. The combination with a closed vessel.

10 for regulating the passage of the compressed air from the vesselthrough the heater to the compressor, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witmesses.

LUDYVIG A. ZGHE.

Witnesses:

W. H. BLAUVELT, FREDERIC J. ANGELL.

